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Europeans first visited the area that now includes the modern-day city of San Diego in 1542, but it took nearly 27 years for the Spanish to establish California's first mission, Mission San Diego de Alcala, on Presidio Hill. The bay, ocean and beaches in San Diego continue to inspire the same sense of awe in modern-day visitors that early explorers recorded in their travel journals.

Whale Watching

Gray whales, one of the world's largest mammals, migrate annually to Mexico from Alaskan waters. From mid-December until mid-April, whale-watching boats depart San Diego harbor twice daily for viewing tours. Naturalists from the Birch Aquarium at the Scripps Institute are on board to provide a three-hour instructional tour that features gray whale artifacts brought from the aquarium and underwater microphones that allow guests to listen to the sounds of the whale migration. Whale chatter is heard when the convoy pods move south.

Reservations are not required but are highly recommended. Fees for the tour, on which whale spotting is guaranteed, are higher on weekends. Seal and sea otter spotting is a bonus, but if whales fail to make an appearance, guests receive a free ticket for another tour.

Old Town San Diego State Park

The city's trolley service delivers sightseers to the Old Town State Historic Park, located in the downtown area. Early adobe housing and history museums are accompanied by restaurants, markets, shops and art galleries adjacent to the park. The Tequila Museum, a tourist favorite, exhibits more than 1,700 bottles of the south-of-the-border specialty. A candy maker, blacksmith, boot maker, potter and leather crafter offer demonstrations and display their wares for sale. Visit the winery for tasting, the town olive-oil producer for a little extra-virgin olive oil and the special marketplace to shop for handmade Mexican arts and crafts. Hands-on activities include candle making.

California State Park volunteer guides offer walking tours of the historic Old Town. Call for state park hours of operation and tours offered on the day of the visit. For those who enjoy seated touring, a private trolley system also affords a view of the general area from a cushioned location on a large orange-and-green bus. Commercial guided trolley reservations are required, with discounts for booking tickets online.

Old Town San Diego State Park 4002 Wallace St. San Diego, CA 92110 619-220-5422 parks.ca.gov

Old Town Trolley Tours San Diego Old Town San Diego State Historic Park San Diego, CA 92110 619-298-8687 trolleytours.com/san-diego/rates-and-reservations.asp

Balboa Park

The original park was dedicated in 1868, but the landscaping seen today in Balboa Park was not planted until 1910. The nearly 1,400-acre park is home to gardens, a zoo, performing arts theaters and 15 museums. The Spanish Renaissance buildings along the park walkway were built for the Panama-California Exposition (1915 and 1916). The world's largest pipe organ, the zoo, and the California Tower and dome were added to the park for the first fair.

The California Pacific International Exposition held in 1935 and 1936 provided the impetus for the architecture in the Palisades area. A re-creation of Shakespeare's Old Globe Theater, the Spanish Village Art Center and the Zoro Gardens were featured at the second fair.

The park today incorporates museums of natural history, anthropology and local history, many housed in historic mission-style structures. Aerospace, automotive and sports museums are also part of the complex. Children enjoy the puppet theater and a museum devoted exclusively to model trains. Separate art and photography museums are also located on the grounds. Nature fans enjoy walking or cycling on the park's network of trails that connect to the city's Florida Canyon Hiking Trails and the Morley Field Sports Complex.

Admission to the outdoor gardens and indoor botanical display is free. Seven-day passports as well as seasonal and day passes are available and admit the holder to all park venues. Drive to the park, or take the city's public transportation to all venues.

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About the Author

Lee Grayson has worked as a freelance writer since 2000. Her articles have appeared in publications for Oxford and Harvard University presses and research publishers, including Facts On File and ABC-CLIO. Grayson holds certificates from the University of California campuses at Irvine and San Diego.

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